Method for bonding ceramic to metal and ceramic arc tube with ceramic to metal bond
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsGlenn Howard Kuenzler, Deeder Aurongzeb
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lamp includes a discharge vessel comprising a body portion defining a discharge space and leg members extending therefrom. Electrode assemblies include conductors carried by bores of the respective leg members. At least one of the conductors is bonded directly to the respective leg member within the bore, without the need for a sealing material, to form an airtight seal. Electrodes are electrically connected to the conductors and extend into the discharge vessel. An ionizable fill is sealed within the vessel.
Claims28
A lamp comprising:
- a ceramic discharge vessel comprising a body portion defining a discharge space and leg members extending therefrom;
- electrode assemblies comprising:
- conductors carried by bores of the leg members, at least one of the conductors being bonded directly to the respective leg member within the bore to form an airtight seal, the conductor including at least one of the group consi stin g of Nb, Ta, Re, and Os, and
- electrodes electrically connected to the conductors and extending into the discharge vessel;
- and
- an ionizable fill sealed within the vessel.
A method of forming a hermetic seal between a conductor and a tubular ceramic body comprising:
- providing a conductive core with at least one of an oxidation-resistant layer and a corrosion-resistant layer to form a conductor;
- positioning the conductor within a bore of the tubular ceramic body, the bore having, a diameter greater than a diameter of the conductor;
- and
- sintering the ceramic body to shrink the ceramic body onto the conductor to form a hermetic seal therebetween.
A method of forming a lamp comprising:
- forming an electrode assembly comprising an electrode and a conductor;
- inserting the conductor into the bore of a ceramic body;
- sintering the ceramic body to shrink the ceramic body and bond the conductor to the ceramic body around the bore;
- and,
- incorporating the electrode assembly with the bonded conductor and sintered ceramic body into a lamp such that the electrode protrudes from the sintered ceramic body into an interior discharge space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.